Pinblock Plugs

[Farrell]

When I have plugged and used epoxy, I used the West System with a fairly
thick mixture of their #??? high-strength adhesive filler. I made the holes
bigger than the plugs so that there was a gap between plug and block
material. I probably drilled a 9/16" hole for a 1/2" plug. I did that
because I was concerned about keeping glue on all areas of the plug. I
feared areas of no glue if I went for a tight fit with some other kind of
glue/adhesive. Maybe its not realistic concern. But hey, for me, it was.

Terry Farrell
Piano Tuning & Service
Tampa, Florida
mfarrel2@tampabay.rr.com

----- Original Message -----
From: "Delwin D Fandrich" <pianobuilders@olynet.com>
To: <pianotech@ptg.org>
Sent: Tuesday, March 13, 2001 10:18 AM
Subject: Re: Pinblock Plugs


>
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: "Farrell" <mfarrel2@tampabay.rr.com>
> To: <pianotech@ptg.org>
> Sent: March 13, 2001 4:05 AM
> Subject: Re: Pinblock Plugs
>
>
> > The epoxy I have used, and I believe what Roger Jolly uses, is West
System
> > epoxy - and the entire philosophy of its engineering is to bond wood. It
> was
> > originally designed for cold molding wooden boats together. West System
> > becomes one with the wood.
> >
> > But, I like your ideas. Especially the Weldwood Plastic Resin Glue. I
have
> > used that in many other applications in the past a like it quite a bit.
It
> > would certainly be easier to use in this application. All the gooey
epoxy
> > was a bit problematic for me and can easily see that the Weldwood would
be
> > easier. There are so many very good glues out there, that sometimes I
find
> > it easy to forget one that you haven't used for a while!
> > ---------------------------------------------
>
> You might want to consider the fit of the plugs as you consider your
choice
> of adhesive. So-called 'plastic resin' glues (usually a member of a broad
> classification of adhesives otherwise known as phenol-formaldehyde
> adhesives) require a very nice, tight fit between the joined members. As a
> class they are notoriously very poor gap-fillers.
>
> Epoxy, on the other hand, is probably one of the best gap-filling
adhesives
> known. It is also known for its inter-penetrating abilities -- especially
> the water-thin varieties -- and is the only wood adhesive known for its
> exceptional ability to form any bond strength at all when used with two
> end-grain wood members -- as you will have with wood pinblock plugs.
>
> Now, having said that, I have only rarely plugged a pinblock, preferring
to
> replace them whenever possible. And with the types of pianos I work on it
is
> nearly always possible even if I have to conduct a bit of surgery to get
the
> casework apart.
>
> Joe, on the other hand, often works on pianos that are even older than he
> is. And it sounds like he already has quite a bit more experience plugging
> than I will probably ever have.
>
> So. You pays your money and takes your chances.
>
> Del
>
>
>